Welcome to Hill Country Herbalist

Friday, December 26, 2014

Benefits of Organic Coffee: Not Just In Our Cups, But On Our Skin!

Caffeine is not just for our favorite mug anymore....well, unless we're talking about the mug reflected in our mirror. More and more, we are seeing caffeine as a key ingredient in anti-aging skin care formulations. Used over time, caffeine applied to the skin can help smooth and brighten skin...now who doesn't love that?

Recently, I've been using organic ground coffee in both facial applications and body scrubs and testing out new formulations for IVITA botanicals. The result is very impressive - I'm wondering what took me so long to formulate skin care products using organic coffee since the benefits on the skin are quite impressive. Even after a few applications, I can really see and feel the difference on my skin.

One reason coffee is so good for the skin is that it is very high in antioxidants. Antioxidants in topical applications help fight free radicals and improve the overall health of our skin cells. Free radicals can diminish skin's vibrant appearance and damage skin cells - so having skin care products with antioxidants is essential. Coffee also increases circulation in the skin, which can reduce dull appearance and lead to a vibrant fresh glow. Coffee is also anti-inflammatory leading to smoother skin with reduced redness and reduced puffiness. Yes, please!

When formulating skin care products, I aim to create organic skin care that brightens, sooths, evens texture, and improves overall skin health. The healthier our skin becomes the better we look and feel. Over the holidays, I formulated two new skin care scrubs: Organic Coffee & Sugar Facial Scrub and Organic Coffee & Dead Sea Salt Body Scrub. Each are blended with organic cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla bean as well as special oils such as pumpkin seed oil, coconut oil, almond oil and hazelnut oil to bring out the vibrancy of each ingredient as well as improve the application to the skin. The result is fresh, vibrant and radiant skin. Followed by body oil and crème - skin feels soft and pampered all day or all night.

Want to have fun with organic ground coffee at home? Try this simple DIY:

Mix all ingredients together and place in a jar with lid. Keep by shower and use as often as you like, making sure to avoid introducing water into the scrub container...water can introduce bacteria that can begin to grow. Bacteria growing in your scrub needs to be avoided. The smell will fill you with happiness and your skin will glow with appreciation.

About Me

I am a Texas native, an artist, a foodie, and an herbalist. I studied under Nicole Telkes Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine in Austin. I mostly focus on developing and producing body care products using plants I grow or purchase organically.
I’m a nutritionist to dear friends and family, I understand food sensitivities and intolerances and how foods can affect cognitive and physical health. I once suffered from GI illness and through studying alternative means of healing and applying discipline to my wellness plan have overcome chronic inflammation and pain. I was fortunate to heal myself outside of the typical medical model of prescriptions and think many of us can, too. I believe we have the power to heal our bodies. We are all introduced to a myriad of pollutants each day. We are eating, applying them, or inhaling them with little thought. I aim too reduce this minefield by producing toxin free products that are beneficial, nutritive, and easily absorbed through the skin. We all need a little help navigating through today’s exposures. My mission is to help reduce pollution in people, one product at a time. Thank you for joining me in my herbal adventures!

Blog Disclaimer:

Statements made on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. Entries made by Hill Country Herbalist are not intented to replace medical care, nor are they intended to diagnose, cure or prevent illness or disease. Please speak with your health care practicioner for health concerns. Discussions and comments made on Hill Country Herbalist are not intended to replace consultations with your health care provider and should not be construed as medical advice.

we all grow up

(c) 2006

Lily

(c) 1996

Belinda's Dream

Dancer

(c) 1999

Spring

Verbena (Vervain) Loving Spring

2010

Butterfly

(c) 2006

Spring

Cactus in Bloom

Spring in the Hill Country 2010

Flowers for Mum

(c) 2000

Infused Oils

reaching towards the sun

(c) 2001

Iris

(c) 2001

Briar and Basil in the Greenhouse

Pets love to garden too!

IVITA Botanicals on Etsy!

Want to See More from Hill Country Herbalist?

You can read more blog posts by Hill Country Herbalist by browsing the archives (scroll up and look for blog archives on the right side of your screen) or use the "search" feature. Happy browsing!